Syiem firm on common candidate

SHILLONG: PDF chief P.N Syiem, who has been advocating for a common candidate for the Ranikor by-poll, has asserted that the regional parties cannot lose their identity simply because of the fact that a coalition government is ruling the state.
Talking to media persons here on Friday, Syiem said his strategy is that the candidates who had contested the February election from the constituency can support a common candidate this time.
“In the last election we had jointly taken on the Congress but we cannot have the same approach in every election”, Syiem said.
He said that the name of a common candidate will be declared in Ranikor but before that a series of meetings will be held in different places to finalise the ‘common candidate’.
He, however, maintained that his decision to put up a common candidate will not affect the MDA coalition.
Asked if he would seek support from the Congress for the common candidate, Syiem said the matter has been discussed with the grass root workers of the party.
Claiming that the feedback for a common candidate was encouraging, the PDF chief said it would be a good contest between the common candidate and a strong candidate like M.M Danggo.
“If all party workers at the grassroots level support the common candidate it will be tough for him (Danggo) to win,” Syiem said.
He also stated that there was no confusion between the PDF and the NPP over the Ranikor by-election.